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Consultative Selling: The Hanan Formula for High-Margin Sales at High Levels
by Mack HANANWhen you help your customers and clients make profitable business decisions, the result is a win-win solution that can lead to a mutually beneficial long-term business relationship.In Consultative Selling, sales consultant Mack Hanan helps you achieve just that by introducing a formula that will take your sales to the next level--one that involves you exchanging your salesperson hat for that of a trusted consultant. You&’ll learn how to:create a two-tiered sales model to separate consultative sales from commodity sales;build and use consultative databases for value propositions and proof of performance;study your customers&’ cash flows to win proposals;use consultative selling strategies on the web;and cope with--and reverse--the inevitable &“no.&”For over four decades, Consultative Selling has empowered countless sales professionals to reap maximum success.Now, packed with new partnering strategies, cost/benefit analysis templates, detailed monetized value proposition models, outcome-based branding approaches, and powerful consulting tactics, the eighth edition of this invaluable resource will bring you wide-ranging success--making the competition irrelevant.
Advances in Design, Simulation and Manufacturing VIII: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Design, Simulation, Manufacturing: The Innovation Exchange, DSMIE-2025, June 17–20, 2025, Porto, Portugal - Volume 2: Mechanical Engineering (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering)
by Raul D. Campilho Vitalii Ivanov Francisco J. G. Silva Gustavo Filipe Pinto Andresa BaptistaThis book reports on advances in mechanical engineering, with a special emphasis on innovative design approaches, constructions and working processes, and on intelligent devices. It discusses physical aspects during pressing and vibrational processing, and findings relating to static stiffness and wear resistance. Further chapters report on the modeling and simulation of mechanical systems using mathematical modeling, numerical simulation, and experimental studies. This book also describes the use of LabVIEW, an infrared camera, and acoustic technology for the control and diagnostic of air leaks and radial runout of gear wheels. It discusses topics concerning the efficiency of systems and processes, reporting on new strategies for improving the design and operation of hydraulic machine rotors, screw and roller presses, and homogenizers, among others. Based on the 8th International Conference on Design, Simulation, Manufacturing: The Innovation Exchange (DSMIE-2025), held on June 17-20, 2025, in Porto, Portugal, this second volume of a 4-volume set provides academics and professionals with extensive information on technologies, trends, challenges, and practice-oriented experience in all the above-mentioned.
Advances in Design, Simulation and Manufacturing VIII: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Design, Simulation, Manufacturing: The Innovation Exchange, DSMIE-2025, June 17–20, 2025, Porto, Portugal - Volume 1: Manufacturing Engineering (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering)
by Vitalii Ivanov Justyna Trojanowska Francisco J. G. Silva Arnaldo Manuel Guedes PintoThis book reports on advances in manufacturing, with a special emphasis on smart and sustainable systems and strategies. It covers advances in additive manufacturing, multi-pin ultrasonic peening, shot peening, and hot isostatic pressing; topics in stamping, injection moulding, assembly processes; strategies for improving the durability and service life of engineering products and machines; advances in machining processes, particularly milling and vibro-abrasive methods; and industrial robotics. Chapters report on theoretical research, mathematical modeling, and experimental studies concerning the design engineering of robots and machine tools, alike. They also discuss key aspects of quality assurance of products for milling and moulding processes, as well as multiaxis machining in flexible fixtures. Based on the 8th International Conference on Design, Simulation, Manufacturing: The Innovation Exchange (DSMIE-2025), held on June 17-20, 2025, in Porto, Portugal, this first volume of a 4-volume set provides academics and professionals with extensive information on technologies, trends, challenges, and practice-oriented experience in all the above-mentioned areas.
The Third Rule of Time Travel
by Philip FracassiRule One: Travel can only occur to a point within your lifetime.Rule Two: You can only travel for ninety seconds.Rule Three: You can only observe.The rules cannot be broken.This is not the story you think you know. And the rules are only the beginning.The Third Rule of Time Travel is a riveting sci-fi thriller that packs an emotional punch from acclaimed author Philip Fracassi, perfect for fans of The Space Between Worlds and Severance.Praise for Philip Fracassi:' A clever premise digs its heels into a sci-fi thriller that breaks into a gallop from the first page - exciting, haunting, compelling stuff' Chuck Wendig'Frighteningly plausible science fiction. . .chilling and unpredictable' Tyler Jones, author of Midas'Fracassi makes terror read so damn beautifully' Victor LaValle, author of The Changeling'Unrelenting and highly entertaining' Thomas Olde Heuvelt, author of Hex'A smart and deftly-written tale' Nick Cutter, author of The Troop'As poignant as it is chilling, with a fast-paced, unflinching ending' Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger'The most unsettling novel I have read all year' Ronald Malfi, author of Black Mouth'Harrowing and claustrophobic' Christopher Golden, author of Road of Bones'Fracassi. . . builds his horrific tales slowly and carefully...he's especially skilful at creating, and sustaining, suspense' The New York Times'Gut-wrenching, heart breaking, and terrifying' Andy Davidson, author of The Boatman's Daughter'Fracassi's storytelling is. . . horror with a big, broken heart' Esquire
The One You Least Suspect: A gripping, edge-of-your seat thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author
by Brian McGilloway'Heart-stopping' ANN CLEEVES'Genius' STEVE CAVANAGH'A triump' IRISH EXAMINER'Nail-biting' ANDREA MARA'Exceptional' JOHN CONNOLLY'Breathlessly exciting' IRISH INDEPENDENT------------Katie lives a quiet life. She likes her small Derry neighbourhood. She likes her job as a barmaid at O'Reillys. And she loves her daughter, Hope.But everything changes when she is approached by two detectives. They want Katie to tell them the things she hears at work. To become their informant.In this city, Katie knows the dangers of talking to the police. Yet with Hope's safety at risk should she refuse, she is trapped between two impossible choices.Crossing the O'Reilly brothers could cost her everything. Her only chance of survival is if she can remain the one that they least suspect . . .A gripping, heart-wrenching thriller that explores the fine line between right and wrong, justice and revenge, and how you choose your side when everyone is guilty . . .------------'Claustrophobic' IRISH TIMES'A heart-stopping story' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT'Truly an edge-of-your-seat book' PATRICIA GIBNEY'A propulsive read from start to finish' JO SPAIN'Gritty, heart-stopping . . . I raced through every page' SAM BLAKE'McGilloway writes beautifully' LITERARY REVIEW'Gripping and compulsive' CLAIRE ALLAN'A masterful mystery writer' THE GLOSS MAGAZINE 'My heart hasn't stopped hammering since I started this book' ANDREA CARTER
Overcoming Bulimia Nervosa 4th Edition: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques (Overcoming Books)
by Patricia Graham Prof Peter CooperStep-by-step - the proven path to recovery from bulimia nervosaStringent dieting and making yourself vomit after overeating are common features of bulimia nervosa, as are depression, anxiety and feelings of worthlessness. This illness causes great distress to sufferers and those who care about them, but in recent years there have been real advances in treatment.In the fourth edition of this sympathetic and highly acclaimed guide, you will find a clear explanation of the disorder and the serious health issues that can result from it as well as learning about the treatments available today. Most importantly, this book offers a step-by-step programme for those who want to tackle their difficulties.This programme has been found in independent clinical research to be of substantial benefit to people with bulimia nervosa (Psychological Medicine, 2005). This book will also give friends and family a much clearer understanding of the illness and its treatment.OVERCOMING self-help guides use clinically proven techniques to treat long-standing and disabling conditions, both psychological and physical.This book is recommended by the national Reading Well scheme for England and Wales, delivered by the Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians with funding from Arts Council England and Wellcome.www.reading-well.org.ukSeries editor: Emeritus professor Peter Cooper
Retreat: the clever, twisty rollercoaster thriller
by Krysten Ritter'The Talented Mr Ripley meets How to Kill Your Family. Sharp, funny and has a twist you won't see coming' Eve KellmanEven for a con artist, Liz is about to take things way, way too far . . . Liz has always had a knack for charming people and gaining their trust. That's what makes her such a talented con artist. But lately the pressure's rising - Liz's past crimes have started snapping at her heels. So she leaps at the chance to escape to the Mexican coast to decorate a socialite's new villa, planning to lie low, enjoy paradise, and behave herself for once.When Liz is mistaken for her absent employer, Isabelle, she can't help getting drawn into this glamorous seafront community. But dangerous secrets lurk beneath the surface, and it's not long before Liz realises that this time, she might be in over her head . . .Spoiler: it's going to be carnage.'Sexy, breakneck, full of surprises. A wild ride' Mary Kubica'Written with enormous verve, this effervescent story featuring the resourceful - if amoral - Liz glitters like the diamond on her finger' Daily Mail'Try not to drop it in the pool at the jaw-dropping twist' Ellery Lloyd'A fiendish tale of trouble in paradise. Expertly paced, tightly plotted' LA Times'This book was a great read. Who doesn't love a well-written bad girl?' ***** Reader Review'Razor-sharp' Wendy Walker'This book was so much fun to read! One big twist and turn after another' ***** Reader Review'A dynamite read' Rachel Sargeant'A whirlwind. I read it over the course of a few hours' ***** Reader Review'Seductive and satisfying' Vikki Patis
There Came A-Tapping: A gripping thriller that will keep you up all night
by Andrea Carter'Beautifully written . . . This dark tale never loses its grip. Best not to read it at night' DAILY MAIL'Atmospheric, creepy . . . kept me guessing right till the end. I loved it' ANDREA MARA'Scary and thrilling in equal nature, I was obsessed with finishing this book. A must read' JO SPAIN------------Since losing her parents in a car crash as a teen, Allie has struggled to cope. Meeting Rory finally made things easier. She's come to rely on him for almost everything, so when he disappears while filming a documentary in the West of Ireland, she fears she'll come undone. Again.Tap...When a couple arrive at the Dublin apartment she and Rory share, claiming to be the new tenants, Allie is distraught. Why did Rory let out their home without telling her? And - where is he?Tap-tap...She seeks refuge at the run-down and reputedly haunted Raven Cottage in the Slieve Bloom mountains, where she and Rory were planning to move one day. Allie slowly starts to build a life for herself - and begins to believe that she might manage to make it alone.Tap-tap-tap...But then Rory's car is found submerged at the end of a pier, nowhere near where he was supposed to be - and the body in the driver's seat isn't his. Alison starts to revisit her memories of their time together, and begins to question if she can trust them...A gripping, haunting thriller that will give you chills - perfect for fans of Tana French, Erin Kelly and Jane Casey.------------'A rural community full of secrets, a satisfyingly baffling mystery and a plot that races along to a perfect conclusion' JANE CASEY'Hauntingly atmospheric . . . will keep you up all night!' SAM BLAKE'Devoured this in two sittings. A hugely atmospheric mystery with a creeping sense of dread' BRIAN MCGILLOWAY'Had me gripped from the start' AMANDA JENNINGS
The Gurkha Mindset: 10 Lessons in Courage and Resilience
by Captain Kailash LimbuThe Gurkha Mindset distils the wisdom and experiences of a seasoned Gurkha soldier into ten powerful lessons for life and leadership.Drawing from over two decades of service in the British Army, including five tours in Afghanistan and deployments in Bosnia and Sierra Leone, Captain Kailash Limbu shares the core principles that have shaped his journey as a soldier and a man. Through the metaphor of the khukuri, a symbolic and essential tool for every Gurkha, he illustrates how mindset and behaviour are crucial to overcoming challenges, achieving success and leading with honour.Kailash reveals how the disciplined and courageous mindset of the Gurkhas can be applied to everyday life, helping readers manage emotions, foster teamwork, lead effectively and prioritise self-care. Each lesson is rooted in the simplicity and strength of the Gurkha way of life, offering practical insights that are both timeless and adaptable to any context.Whether you seek to enhance your personal life, advance in your career or simply find greater fulfilment, The Gurkha Mindset provides the tools to sharpen your focus, build resilience and embrace life's challenges with a warrior's spirit.
I'll Be There (And Let's Make Friendship Bracelets): A Girl's Guide to Making and Keeping Real-Life Friendships
by Amy Weatherly Jess JohnstonIn a challenging world, making friends as a kid is tough. Luckily, authors Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston are back with a new spin on their successful friendship book for women--this time to help tween and teen girls struggling with those awkward adolescent years gain their courage and confidence by learning to make real and lasting connections with friends.An honest and humorous take on the connection between self-acceptance and community, I'll Be There (And Let's Make Friendship Bracelets) is a how-to for practicing time-tested skills to establish quality friendships and navigate their ups and downs. For any girl who's ever felt uncomfortable in their own skin or is still healing from "friendship hurt," this book will teach themhow to find and keep friends who accept and love them for who they are;the importance of making friends off screen;to stay confident and kind in the thick of mean-girl culture; andhow to "break up" with comparison and become a cheerleader for their friends.I'll Be There (And Let's Make Friendship Bracelets) will encourage and reassure girls by showing them the value and importance of healthy friendships. Whether breaking it down page by page independently or in a friend group, they're guaranteed to connect with the book's insightful activities and candid content, includingjournaling prompts, infographics, and coloring pages;fun quizzes, word searches, real-life challenges, and hidden messages;true stories from Amy's and Jess's own childhood experiences; anda how-to guide for creating DIY friendship bracelets.From the supermom team that brought you I'll Be There (But I'll Be Wearing Sweatpants) comes a compulsively readable and highly interactive map for girlhood and friendship with a clear message: life in our crazy and chaotic "plugged-in" world is more fulfilling surrounded by real-life friends.
Safe in the Shepherd's Arms: Hope and Encouragement from Psalm 23 (A 30-Day Devotional)
by Max LucadoPsalm 23 provides words of comfort and inspiration to readers needing hope to persevere through life&’s daily challenges. This 30-day devotional from New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado will teach you how to:Release your burdensCast away your fearsFind security with the Good Shepherd This month-long devotional:Is a great gift for a loved one going through a difficult season, or a friend needing an encouraging pick-me-upHas beautiful four-color photography Safe in the Shepherd&’s Arms is a reliable source of safety and security from Psalm 23. Max Lucado describes this Psalm as &“written by a shepherd who became a king – because He wanted us to know about a King who became a shepherd.&”
Award Winning Customer Service: 101 Ways To Guarantee Great Performance
by Renee EvensonDelivering top-of-the-line customer service is Job #1 for most companies, an important factor in keeping profits high and customers coming back. Customer service problems can damage not just a company’s reputation but its bottom line, so for busy managers -- and business owners with little time to search for solutions -- some fast help is needed. Award-Winning Customer Service offers scores of quick tips for readers looking to improve and then maintain their company’s level of customer service. The book is chock full of practical advice on important topics such as: * planning and goal setting * effective communication * leadership * preparing for change * continual learning * coaching and development * effective feedback * motivational and problem-solving meetings * conflict resolution * follow-up and staying on top of the game * and more. Containing 101 effective tips in all, unique "When this happens, try this" sections, and encouraging quotes, this is an essential reference for anyone who needs guidance or just a refresher on making customers feel truly valued.
A Reader's Greek New Testament: Third Edition
by Albert L. Lukaszewski Richard J. GoodrichA Reader&’s Greek New Testament: Third Edition saves time and effort in studying the Greek New Testament. If a Greek word appears in the New Testament fewer than 30 times, then a definition is provided. This serves as an aid when you encounter less common vocabulary, allowing you to focus on reading, comprehension, parsing, and grammatical issues. You no longer have to interrupt your reading, searching through a lexicon! Featuring a handsome Italian Duo-Tone™ binding, A Reader&’s Greek New Testament: Third Edition is a practical, attractive, and surprisingly affordable resource.Features of this third edition include: footnoted definitions of all words occurring 30 times or less; mini-lexicon of all words occurring more than 30 times; Greek text underlying the New International Version; footnotes comparing the Greek text with the critical text of UBS5/NA28; 4 pages of full-color maps; marker ribbon; and easy-to-read Greek fonts.
Basics of Latin: A Grammar with Readings and Exercises from the Christian Tradition
by Derek CooperBasics of Latin: A Grammar with Readings and Exercises from the Christian Tradition by Derek Cooper introduces students, independent learners, and homeschoolers to the basics of Latin grammar with all readings and exercises taken from texts in the Christian tradition.As part of the widely-used Zondervan Language Basics series of resources, Cooper's Latin grammar is a student-friendly introduction. It helps students learn by:Minimizing technical jargonProviding only the information needed to learn the basicsBreaking the grammar of language down into manageable and intuitive chunksIllustrating the grammar in question by its use in rich selections from ancient Christian authors.Providing grammar, readings, exercises, and a lexicon all in one convenient volume.Basics of Latin provides an ideal first step into this important language and focuses on getting the student into texts and translation as quickly as possible.
Reflections on the Lord's Prayer: Inspiring Thoughts on Jesus' Own Prayer (Timeless Faith Classics)
by Susan BrowerUpdated with a fresh look and feel, Reflections on the Lord&’s Prayer joins the Zondervan Gift Timeless Faith Classics line.Reflections on the Lord&’s Prayer will join Serenity and The Creeds as a beautiful new entry into the new Timeless Faith Classics line. Combining fresh, elegant designs with reflections specific to select classics, each beautiful volume will be a welcome addition to any bookshelf.Reflections on the Lord&’s Prayer presents the best-known prayer among Christians as the ultimate prayer model. From Martin Luther's reflection on why the prayer opens with 'Our Father . . . ' to the acknowledgment of God's '... power and glory forever,' readers will enjoy insights and thoughts culled from a variety of respected writers to enhance understanding of the prayer. Carefully chosen passages of Scripture help confirm and underscore the relevance of each phrase---and the prayer as a whole---in our daily lives.
Levi The Little Shepherd Boy
by Steve BrownLevi the shepherd boy is tired of watching sheep. Mostly he is tired of his older brothers pushing him around. A miraculous event one night causes Levi to wander off--will his brothers be angry that he left the flock unattended?
The Secrets of Suffering: The Biblical Formula to Understanding Suffering
by T.A. NalianThe moment we find ourselves in adversity, we tend to quickly react in two ways: "Lord would you deliver me and deliver now?" And, "Why is this happening to me?" Often, deliverance will not come immediately, and the epic question "why" is truly the big reason for this book. In your lifetime, suffering will be inescapable. This is why it's so important we learn to navigate our way through the thick, dark forest of suffering. If we do not learn this ourselves and neglect to teach those coming after us, we will forego many blessings and experiences with God and expose our children, students and parishioners to the same. The uniqueness of this book is positioned in the fact that its author has experienced suffering beginning at the age of three to the writing of this work. Therefore, the substance of this book rests not in hypothesis, but rather in real-time experience. If you are suffering, this book can help you for the simple reason that the author will compel you to put yourself in the presence of His Majesty, the Lord Jesus! He is the one who has suffered the most. The one who suffered the most can help you the most! Why? Because He is the Almighty Eternal God. He loves you with an everlasting unconditional love. The Lord can identify with your every hurt. He will show you in your suffering, that He is close, intimate, and He cares! Everyone knows someone who is struggling and suffering. This book would be the perfect gift and resource, equipping them to persevere, while, at the same time, experiencing the glorious blessings of God in the process!
Leaving Ordinary: Encounter God Through Extraordinary Prayer (InScribed Collection)
by Donna Gaines InScribedHow to develop an intimate relationship with God through prayer. The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and be known by God. God longs for an intimate relationship with us as well. But how do we develop that kind of relationship with a holy God? It is one thing to long for such a relationship, but quite another to experience intimacy with Him. In Leaving Ordinary, Donna Gaines shares from her personal experience how prayer can become the channel that links the believer&’s heart to the heart of God.God gave the pattern of the tabernacle to the Israelites. It was a temporary and portable dwelling for His glory. Through it God taught them how to approach and worship Him before He led them to their reward—the promised land. Using the tabernacle and its articles as a guide, Donna teaches readers how to interact with God in that secret place of true intimacy that leads to worship. Your ordinary daily practice of prayer can become an extraordinary encounter with the living Lord. Leaving Ordinary is essential reading for anyone who desires to enter into and experience the reality of God&’s presence.As you read, you will:Explore the tabernacle and discover how it can be a guide for prayer today.Learn how to gain a stronger, more intimate relationship with God.Develop your own personal prayer testimony as you experience His presence.
Human Gravity: An Engineer’s Analysis of Society-Government Relations
by Al KellerHumanity lives inside 4 unyielding constraints, the speed of light, conservation of mass-energy, inefficiency in conversion of heat to work, and the law of demand. Society forms to deal with constraint. Government and religion set boundaries for society to deal with modeling and manipulating constraint.A societal dimension, moral consequence, and a government dimension, fairness, can be developed from mass-energy conservation equations for Society and its Economy. A model is proposed to relate these dimensions developing the Societal Operating Line (SOL) and definition of Productivity.The stability of a society can be determined by the forces applied to the SOL. A stable society will balance the forces of productivity and order versus the force of adversity. A special case of the forces acting on the SOL leads to the definition of a right, the fundamental building block of a Free Society.Improving fairness by government taking productivity from society is the basis for the Managed Society. In order to make society fairer, government takes more productivity and reduces the free exercise of rights to the point of demanding complete conformity.Government&’s role in a Free Society can be modeled by comparing the economic function of society with a common engineering structure-the boiler. This role is likened to keeping the boiler water clean by removing contamination through &“blowdown&”. In a Managed Society, government manipulates &“blowdown&” to increase its power and influence.Applying these engineering models helps us to understand the material and energy balances of our societal-government relationship. A Free Society is shown to prosper because of unbound spiritual energy transfer while a Managed Society is shown to be limited by the finite distribution of things.
Modern Artificial Intelligence Based on Soft Computing Techniques (Studies in Computational Intelligence #1204)
by Oscar Castillo Patricia MelinThis book describes what we can call modern artificial intelligence that includes the theoretical developments and applications of soft computing techniques. Soft computing includes fuzzy logic, neural networks and meta-heuristic algorithms, as well as their hybrid combinations. There are papers with the main topics from type-1 to type-3 fuzzy logic, which basically consists of a group of papers that propose new concepts and algorithms based on type-1, type-2 and type-3 fuzzy logic and their applications. There are also papers that present theory and practice of meta-heuristics in diverse application areas. There are interesting papers on different applications of fuzzy logic, neural networks and hybrid intelligent systems in medical problems. In addition, we can find papers describing applications of fuzzy logic, neural networks and meta-heuristics in robotics problems.
Bio-Inspired Computing: Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Innovations in Bio-Inspired Computing and Applications (IBICA 2023) held during December 14-15, 2023, Volume 3: Information Retrieval and Applications (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #1230)
by Ajith Abraham Anu Bajaj Sreela SreedharThis book presents 51 selected papers focused on Information Retrieval and Applications from the 14th International Conference on Innovations in Bio-Inspired Computing and Applications (IBICA 2023) and 13th World Congress on Information and Communication Technologies (WICT 2023), which was held in five different cities namely Olten, Switzerland; Porto, Portugal; Kaunas, Lithuania; Greater Noida, India; Kochi, India and in online mode. IBICA-WICT 2023 had contributions by authors from 36 countries. This book offers a valuable reference guide for all scientists, academicians, researchers, students, and practitioners focused on Information Retrieval and Applications.
Territorial Governance and Spatial Transformation in Post-apartheid South Africa (Local and Urban Governance)
by Daniel Du PlessisThe book provides a reflective account of the evolution of the territorial governance structures and processes in South Africa over a period of 30 years after the transition to a post-apartheid society in 1994. It also considers the role and influence of these changing governance institutions and processes and their associated outputs (in the form of policies and plans) on several priority dimensions of urban spatial transformation. The synthesis of the experiences and lessons learnt provides the bases for contemplating important future focus areas for territorial governance such as spatial transformation towards smart cities, an African perspective for future South African cities, and transitioning towards a streamlined integrated territorial governance system. The lessons and experiences are not only of local significance in South Africa, but also globally in countries and regions faced with territorial governance and spatial transformation challenges.
Digital Twin Technology for Smart Grid (SpringerBriefs in Energy)
by Sabrieh Choobkar Seyed Mohsen HashemiThe traditional power grid has been revolutionized in recent years, and its different domains are improving to form a new smart grid. To better understand smart electricity grid and recommend how its domains function best, a comprehensive look at the power system in parallel with digitalization revolution is required. Recent digital twin (DT) technology promises to enhance industries, including smart grids, and this book studies DT architecture and its applications and benefits. Coverage includes DT solutions for smart grid domains and subsystems and describes advantages of employing DT in the smart grid. The book&’s concept is based on merging DT technology with smart grid applications. Its structure follows an understanding of DT concepts and applications in smart grid domains. Digital Twin Technology for Smart Power Grid will be a valuable reference for power industry practitioners, researchers, and students. It explains the new digital twin technology and how it can enhance the current electricity system toward a smarter power grid.
Urn Models and Their Applications in Finance
by Masato HisakadoThis fascinating book begins with fundamental definitions and notations of urn models before moving on to stochastic processes and applications of urn models in the field of finance. The Pólya urn model is simple but has rich content and diverse applications because it includes correlations. Applications of Pólya models such as phase transitions in nonlinear Pólya models are studied here, and the relation between temporal correlation and phase transition is also discussed. In a continuous limit, the self-exciting negative binomial distribution model and Hawkes model, which has Poisson noise, can be obtained. In these models, it is possible to observe phase transition as a branching process, which is one of the absorption phase transitions. If connected urns are considered, the process can be extended to represent correlations between several urns, corresponding to complex networks among the urns and leading to consideration of how the network affects the urn processes. In this book, the method is applied to default portfolios, including correlations. In finance, correlation is an important issue in the clustering of a default, and several topics involving applications of urn models to risk assessment for default portfolios in finance are explained. Especially in default portfolios, some sectors affect many other sectors while other sectors do not; thus the origin of default contagion, a phenomenon to which urn models with networks are applied here.
Contentious Politics in the Transnational Arena: Political Contention in Europe and its Wider Neighbourhood (Palgrave Studies in European Political Sociology)
by Chiara Milan Aron BuzogányThis Open Access book investigates the transnational dimension of activism — exploring how and why non-state actors scale up contention from the local to the transnational arena, how they translate their grievances and claims into the transnational arena, and how they organize across borders. Moving beyond the analysis of individual campaigns, or a single-country or single-issue focus, which are already well represented in the literature, this volume takes a comprehensive approach. It investigates transnational activities across various policy fields and their respective transnational arenas of contention — namely migration, labour struggles, human rights, and environmental/climate justice — across a range of geographic contexts. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, the contributions in this volume examine cases of transnational contention spanning the EU and its broader neighborhood, from the Western Balkans to the South Caucasus and the Mediterranean. Focusing on European spaces as the arena where civil society actors mobilize, this volume offers insights into their diverse repertoires of contention and discursive strategies, and how they refer to the European Union as the direct or indirect target of their claims. Key cases include grassroots movements, NGO campaigns, pro-European forces, Eurosceptic parties, healthcare and climate justice activism, and the organizational dynamics surrounding migration-related contentious politics. Offering guidelines for future research on civil society actors in the EU and its neighbourhood, this volume is essential reading for scholars and students of political sociology, political science, European studies, as well as practitioners and policy makers concerned with the future of civil society activism in the transnational arena.